Chapter 110: Cherries

Beneath a star-studded night sky, a handsome man and a beautiful woman gazed tenderly at one another. After a brief and rapid exchange of words, a sudden silence fell between them. Though the rooftop was exceptionally quiet, the atmosphere grew increasingly intimate.

Following Kato Mifune’s firm and reassuring promise, the stubborn expression Tsunade had been wearing softened. Sensing the shift in the air, she averted her eyes from his star-bright gaze, looking down at the plastic tea cup she had unconsciously crushed in her hand.

"The herbal tea is almost gone," she murmured, holding the cup with one hand while trying to reshape it with the other. She seemed to be using the deformed cup as a distraction, perhaps hoping that if the man before her drank the rest of the cold tea in one gulp, it might quench the restless, fiery passion burning within him.

Kato Mifune reached out, gently yet firmly taking Tsunade’s hand. He brought her snow-white fingers to his lips, sniffing and kissing them lightly.

"Since the tea is nearly finished, don't worry about the cup. Leave the dregs there; I’ll take care of them later."

Tsunade’s fingers smelled wonderful. Among the scents Mifune could distinguish were grapes, the herbal tea, the vine-scented perfume he had gifted her, and another, more delicate fragrance he couldn't quite name.

"Under this starry night, with only the two of us here, let’s talk about something more romantic and interesting. We shouldn't waste such a beautiful evening."

As he spoke, his other hand was not idle; he gently cupped her jade-like chin, preventing her from looking away. The soft, warm, smooth sensation against his fingertips made Mifune yearn to pause his advance just to savor the feeling.

"Talk... about what?"

Under the barrage of Mifune’s intimate gestures, Tsunade grew nervous, especially with his fingers teasing the soft flesh of her chin and her face—naturally flushed like morning mist over snow—forced to remain tilted toward him. Her senses were filled with his scent. Unlike Mifune, she could not identify the specific notes, only a clean, woody fragrance—not the scent of cologne, but something reminiscent of her grandfather, the First Hokage Hashirama Senju, holding her when she was a child.

The scent brought memories of Wood Release, of the matters he had just mentioned, and of her own worry—the fear that he might recklessly attempt to transplant her grandfather's cells. She knew why she had been nervous before: it was worry. But this current tension? She wasn't sure. Was it fear? Shyness? Or anticipation? She did not know.

"Talk about what? Hmm..." Mifune mused. "Once I inherit my grandfather's Wood Release, let’s design and build a set of furniture for this rooftop together."

"Let’s see... first, we need a vine-wood swing set, one with two swings—a slightly smaller one and a larger one. I’ll design the small one specifically for you so I can push you while you sit. The large one will be sturdy enough for both of us, so I can hold you in my arms while we swing."

"Tsunade."
"Yes?"
"Do you like swinging? Imagine us swinging together under such a beautiful night sky."
"Yes, I like it."
"I knew you would. And we’ll need a sofa and a coffee table, using a mix of hardwood and softwood to ensure both comfort and natural harmony. Then, when we come to the rooftop to rest, we won't have to sit on the wall like we are now."

"Tsunade."
"Yes?"
"What kind of sofa do you like? I’ll go first: I’m thinking of a modular design—separate pieces that can be pushed together into a double bed when needed. If we like the design, we can swap out the one in your office. Your office is big enough; I could build a movable wooden partition to ensure both privacy and comfort."

"Tsunade."
"Yes?"
"What do you think of that idea?"

"We could even build a trellis across the whole roof and grow our own grapes. I’ll peel them for you just like today, feed you iced grapes, and pair it with the finest herbal tea..."

"Tsunade."
"Yes?"
"Would you like to learn the tea ceremony and brew it for me?"

"You may seem hot-tempered and careless on the surface, but your medical ninjutsu proves you are a deeply loving and meticulous woman at heart. If you learn the tea ceremony, I’m sure you’ll brew the most delicious tea."

"Tsunade."
"Yes?"
"Tsunade."
"Yes?"

As Mifune spoke, he gradually stopped detailing their future and simply began to call her name, over and over, in a soft, gentle tone.

Listening to his tender voice, Tsunade felt even more nervous than before. Her heart hammered against her ribs like a startled deer. Her thoughts were a tangled mess. They had been having a serious conversation just moments ago—how had it turned into this pink, ambiguous atmosphere?

How had the night started? With them happily eating iced grapes and drinking tea, enjoying the breeze and the stars. Then he mentioned his mission, the Wood Release, her worries, and then...

Tsunade tried to untangle her chaotic thoughts and asked herself one final question: Was this man worthy of her trust? She still didn't know the answer, yet it felt as if she did.

Mifune looked into her bright eyes, now shimmering with a mist of moisture that made her look even more endearing under the moonlight. *Are those tears?* he wondered. *Are they tears of worry for my safety?* He read the concern, nervousness, fear, anxiety, confusion, and anticipation in her gaze.

Tsunade watched his lips draw near, sensing what was about to happen. She didn't know if she was prepared, or if she should pull away. Her body had the strength to move, yet...

She decided to close her eyes, yielding the decision to him. But the moment her eyes shut, she snapped them open again—wider than before. *No, she had to watch.* This was the first kiss of Tsunade, the Princess of Konoha! As the Princess, she felt a lingering reluctance to give it away so easily—all for a cup of tea and a few grapes.

Mifune, having just enjoyed the grapes, now wanted to taste the pink cherries. Her grapes had been sweet and sour; what would her lips taste like?

With a gentle smile and love glowing in his light-blue eyes, Mifune slowly leaned in to press his lips against her pink, cherry-like mouth.